Linotype-machine.



E. M. LOW.

LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FII-.ED SEPT. 22, 1913.

Patented June 6,1916.`

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE caLUMnm PLANOGRAPM co., WASHING-rml. D. C.

5. M. Low. LINOTYPE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1913. 1,185,692. v lPatented June 6,1916.

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UNITE STATES.

LINOTYPE-MACHINE.

Application ledvSeptember 22, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ivnnn'rr M. Low, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The matrices which are now in common use on linotype machines each have two intaglio characters formed therein, one of which is generally of roman face and the other either italic or heavy face; the roman generally being stamped in the higher position on the matriX and the italic or black face in a lower position. In order to produce these characters in cameo, in mixed order; thatv is, some in one face and some in the other on the same slug, it is necessary to retain the matrices in either a higher or lower position during the operations of assembling, delivering to the casting mechanism, and casting the slug; and it is necessary thereafter to bring them all to a common plane for the purpose of distributing them back into their individual channels in the magazine.

Various machines have been devised, some of which have gone into actual use for carrying out the above operations; but those machines have inherent disadvantages and defects, which it is the object of my present invention to overcome.

The present invention provides a very simple and practical device for receiving all the matrices on the same plane in the assembling elevator and for dividing the line to cause the matrices to be supported in different levels or planes. All matrices from the magazine are received upon the same level, so that it may be said that the line -is assembled upon the' same level. The matrices so assembled on the same level or plane may, however, be readily separated to lie in dierent levels or planes by the automatic action of the machine. For this purpose the matrices are all received at the same level upon the same rigid support as the line is being assembled, so that the star wheel or other means, which acts upon the falling matrices, will act uniformly upon all, and will act thereon always to the best advantage. The rigid re- Speccation of Letters Patent.

'ferent facethan in the first instance.

Patented June 6, 1916.

serial No. 791,103.

ceiving member may be arranged in that relation to the star wheel which secures the best results at all times. matrices are all received first upon the same support, which may be rigid, the support may be suitably lined or covered with fiber,

wood, leather or other material which is softer than the matrices so that the latter will be less subject to wearing action than where they fallvon metal supports. I am aware that fiber covered supports have been used on the single type matrix'machines, but it has never been practicable to employ the fiber covering on double type matrix machines.

All the matrices assembled on the same level may be retained on that level until the whole line is assembled; or, all the matrices may be caused to assume a different level than that on which they are assembled until the whole line is assembled. In the rst instance `the .slug cast from the line of matrices will all be of the same face (roman, italic or heavy face, as the case may be), while in the second instance they will all be of the same face, but of a difrIhe device is such that the matrices may be vdelivered to one level or the other in the ytion to the other isvery `simple and effective and is within the controlof: the operator. To state the matter broadly, lthe matrices are all-received at'the samevlevel and are afterward caused to lie in different levels.'

By this I doinot mean'that the whole line must be assembled before dividin'gthe matrices into different levels, but thevmay be separated into different levels 'during the' assembling of a line. l l

In the drawings forming part of this application, Figure l is an elevation, showing the principal parts of the assembling mech- Inasmuch as the The device may be set to` 5 is a similar view in which the switch is shown in its raised position, Fig. 6 is a sectional view through one rail of the assembler elevator, and through the switch, Fig. 7 is a similar view taken at a different point, z'. e. on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 isI a diagrammatic view showing how the matrices are assembled and dropped to the lower level, Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing how the matrices are assembled and then moved first into the upper and then into. the lower positions. Fig. 10 is a similar view, showing how the matrices are assembled and then moved first into the upper, then into the lower and again into the upper positions.

T will first describe the assembling mechanism, in connection with the showing in Figs. 1 to 10. In Fig. 1 are shown the principal parts of the assembling mechanism. 1 is the lower portion of the magazine plate, with the various guide plates Q for guiding the matrices as they fall from the slots of the magazine, upon a belt 8 which travels over a. pulley 4, arranged under the magazine. As the matrices pass through the throat 5 and pass the chute spring 6 they fall upon the star wheel 7 which advances them, in an upright position, into and along the assembling elevator against a stop 9 which is carried upon a bar 10 which is moved along as the line is assembled. The bar 10 is shown as of the usual construction and mounted in the customary manner. There is a stop release 11 stationarily mounted upon the machine, and it has a pair of rollers 12 traveling in opposite grooves in the bar 10, which latter the rollers partly guide and support. The other end of the bar rests upon a roller 13, suitably mounted, in the usual manner. The block 14 is adjustable in the slot 15; and it may be lixed at different positions along the bar by means of a thumb screw 16, according to the lines of matrices to be assembled. The block contacts with an arresting lever 17 when the bar has been moved along by the matrices in the assembling elevator. The lever may be tripped by hand to release the block 1li and allow the bar 10 to travel beyond the point where it is automatically stopped by the lever. The above parts are ofthe usual construction and arrangement.

The assembling elevator 8 is shown as bearing a similar relation of the above parts as in the machines at present in use. 1t is movable vertically from the full line position in Fig. 1, where it receives a line of matrices, to the upper dotted line position Where the matrices are delivered to the rail by which they are supported during their delivery to the casting elevator.

The elevator 8 may be operated to rise and fall by the same means employed on the present machines for that purpose; and, in fact, this elevator may be the same as the corresponding elevator in the machines at present in use except for the special com` posing members hereinafter referred to.

The elevator 8 has a rigid plate, shelf or support 18 on which each matrix is first received as it falls from the magazine and as it is engaged by the star wheel 7. This support is preferably formed of two shoulders of metal extending inwardly at each side from the walls of the elevator rails 19, 20 sufliciently to insure the resting of the matrices thereon as they come from the magazine; although this particular form is not imperative. The support 18 is long enough to receive and support at least one matrix falling thereon, but l preferably make it as long as the width of several matrices, so that several may rest thereon at the same time preceding their delivery to the means for retaining them at different levels. I have, in fact, shown this support long enough to support three matrices side by side, but this is only by way of illustration as the support may be adapted to hold a greater or lesser number. As this support is rigid and is not necessarily of thin metal, it may be provided on its top surface with a covering of material such as wood, leather or fiber 21, which is softer than the matrix metal; so that there will be an almost inappreoiable wearing of the matrices where they strike the support. This eliminates,

to a great extent, the tendency of the matrices to get out of alinement in the casting operation. Because all the matrices from the magazine first fall on the support 18, the lower position (assembling position) of the assembling elevator may be such as to always bring the support in that relation to the star wheel which practice has proven to be the most advantageous; and all the matllo' rices will be acted upon alike by the star wheel.

After the matrices are received on the support 18 they are given a position either in one level or another; or they may all be given a position in an upper level or all in a lower level. Preferably for the upper level they are advanced from the support 18 in the same plane on which they are received; while for the lower level they are preferably dropped below the position at Y which they are received by the support.

While I refer to only two levels, because I have shown matrices having only two intaglios, nevertheless I do not intend thereby to limit the scope of my invention to a two level and double arrangement face matrix.

I have shown herein by way of example,

a very simple device for dividing the matelevator. The switch is arranged to swing in a vertical arc from the pin; and in order to cause the forward end thereof to assume different positions I have provided a hand lever which is fulcrumed to the front of the elevator on a pin 27. One end of this lever has a slot 28 in which a pin 26 on the switch engages. Vhen the lever is in one position (that shown in Fig. 1) the switch is held down upon the top surface of the elevator rail 19; but when the lever is swung over, the pin 26 will be caused to rise, and this will rock the switch on its pivot pin 23. Through this change of position of the switch the matrices are placed in one level or the other.

The switch here shown, consists of a bar 22 having laterally projecting webs 29, 30, which are spaced apart vertically sufficiently to form a groove or slot 31 to receive the ears 32 of the matrices 33. The webs or ribs 29, project laterally in the matrix chamber 34 of the assembling elevator, and their edges preferably terminate in a line with the inner surface 35 of the elevator front rail 19. When the switch is in its lower position there is a space 36V between the rail 30 and the ledge 37 of the elevator rail 19, sufficient also to receive the ears of the matrices. The switch has a depending web 38 which rises and falls in a slot 39 in the elevator rail; and the inner surface of this web is in line with the bottom of the groove 31. As the switch rises or falls the web will present an outer wall for the ears of the lower lying matrices, always spaced the same distance from the back rail 20. Vhen the switch is in the upper position shown in Fig. 5, the rails 29, 30 will lie above the top of the support 18, at least at the forward end; whereas when the switch is in. its lower position the groove 31 of the switch will come into line with the top of the support 18. That is, the top surface of the member 30 will lie flush with the top of the support 18 so that these two elements form a practically continuous support.

In the operation of assembling the matrices the switch will be placed in either the upper or lower position by means of the lever 25 which is within easy reach of the oper*- ator. It may be raised for the assembling of a whole line or it may be lowered for the assembling of a whole line; or it may be changed from one position to the other during the assembling of a line, according to requirements. For instance, if it is desired to assemble the entire line of matrices for the lower level so that the cast will be made from their upper intaglio, then the operator will raise the switch and proceed as sho-wn in Fig. 8. As the matrices fall upon the stationary support 18 they will be advanced therealong by the star wheel; and as a matrix reaches the rear edgev of the stationary support it is pushed off by the matrices ahead of it, through the action of the star wheel. They will drop one by one upon the supporting ledges 37 of the elevator' rails; and they will remain in the same sequence as assembled. At this time the switch is raised at its forward end, so that the matrices are free to fall from the rst supporii18, as they reach the end thereof, to the second support or ledge 37. This may be continued until the complete line is assembled. Then the elevator will be raised in the usual manner to the dotted line position of Fig. `1. During and after the raising of the elevator the matrices will be held upright at the ends of the line by the fingers 10, 1-1 in the usual manner; and they will be carried thereby to the cast ing elevator. If some of the matrices remain -on the support 18 during the raising of the assembling elevator, these few matrices will drop to the same level as the others when the line begins to advance toward the casting elevator; that is, when the line is assembled entirely for the lower level it is not necessary to move off by hand the matrices remaining on the support 18, provided the switch is left up until the line is delivered from the elevator.

If it is desired to assemble a line having the first portion on the upper level and the remainder on the lower level the operator will proceed as illustrated in Fig. 9. Starting with the switch in the lower position the matrices first received on the support 18 will be advanced into the groove 31 of the switch, until all of the matrices for the upper-level have passed into this groove. If the switch is then raised, the subsequent matrices will drop from the support 18 upon the lower supporting ledges 37. If the line is to finish with'the matrices in the lower level, then the line of matrices will be moved by hand to the left sufficiently to allow the matrices 331L to drop to-the ledges 37 When this has been done the switch is again lowered and the elevator raised. The matrices extending into the groove 31, which, in this instance, will Aconstitute the first portion lof the line, will deliver at the upper level; while those resting` uponthe ledges 37 and which, in this instance, constitute the latter' portion of the line, will deliver' at the lower level.

If the line is to be assembled with the first matrices in the upper level and others in the lower, and still others in the upper level, the operator will proceed as illustrated in Fig. l0. At the beginning of the assembling of the line the switch will be in the lower position, so that the matrices 331. will enter the groove of the switch. The switch is then raised, whereupon the succeeding matrices 33C will drop upon the ledge 37. rPhe switch is then lowered and the succeeding matrices 33a will enter the groove of the switch, similar to the first ones. If the line is to end with matrices in the upper level the elevator may now be raised. The matrices 33b which extend into the groove 31 and are supported by the rib 30, will be delivered at the upper level. Immediately following, the matrices 33c will be delivered at the lower level from the ledge 37; and immediately following, the matrices 33, which also travel in the groove of the switch, will be delivered'at the upper level.

From the above it will be apparent that any desired arrangement can be obtained by manipulating the switch during the assembling of the line. If at any time the operator finds that he has made a mistake in placing some of the matrices in the upper level which should be in the lower level, or that he has placed some in the lower level which should be in the upper one, he can swing open the gate 42 in the usual manner and shift) any portion of the line from one level to the other byY tilting the matrices-and passing their ears over or under the rib 30. The line of matrices will be received from the assembling elevator upon the rails 43, 44 in the usual manner. The ears of the matrices received in the upper level Vwill travel in the slots 45, and the ears of the matrices received in the lower level will travel in the slots 46. 'Ihe matrices, thus supported in an upper or lower or in both an upper and a lower plane in the grooves 45, 46, are moved along the rails 43, 44 and are delivered to the first or casting elevator (not shown).

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a machine of the class described, matrices designed to be used in different planes, a support, and means for assembling the matrices thereon in the same plane, means for receiving matrices from said support and maintaining them in a lower plane from that in which they are assembled, and means swinging from a fulcrum located away from said iirst support and arranged to be swung so that one end thereof may be brought into line with said first support to receive matrices in the same plane in which they are assembled, and so that said end may be swung upwardly to allow matrices to feed from said first support to said maintaining means.

2. In a machine of the class described, matrices designed to be used in diierent planes, an assembler having a relatively stationary supporting means adapted to receive matrices all in the same plane, a relatively movable supporting means adapted to receive matrices from said stationary supporting means and means for moving said relatively movable supporting means and the matrices supported thereby, whereby said matrices will be moved out of alinement with the` said relatively stationary supporting means to allow matrices received by said relatively stationary supporting means to pass to a lower plane than the said first mentioned matrices.

3. In a machine of the class described, matrices designed to be used in different planes, an assembler having a relatively stationary supporting means adapted to receive matrices all in the same plane, a fulcrumed supporting means adapted to receive matrices from said relatively stationary supporting means and to be swung with the matrices supported thereby to move said matrices out of alinement with said relatively stationary supporting means whereby the matrices received by said relatively stationary supporting means may be assembled in a different plane to said iirst mentioned matrices.

4. In a machine of the class described, matrices designed to be used in diiierent planes, an assembler having a relatively stationary supporting means adapted to receive the matrices all in the same plane, a swinging supporting rail adapted to receive matrices from said relatively stationary means and having a groove arranged to receive the lower lugs of said matrices, said rail being adapted to be swung with the matrices supported thereon whereby said groove will be moved out of alinement with the lugs of the matrices on the relatively stationary support to allow the matrices received by said relatively stationary supporting means to pass to a different plane to said first mentioned matrices.

5. In a machine of the class described, matrices designed to be used in different planes, an assembler having a slot and having a relatively stationary supporting means adapted to receive the matrices all in the same plane, a swinging supporting rail adapted to receive matrices from said relatively stationary supporting means and having laterally extending flanges forming an intermediate groove to receive the lugs of the matrices, said rail having a downwardly extending web moving in said assembler slot, said rail being adapted to be swung with the lio matrices supported thereon whereby said Signed at the city, county and'State of i groove Will be moved out of alinement With New York, this 17 th day of September, 1913.

the lugs of the matrices on the relatively stationary support to allow the matrices Ie- EVERETT M LOW 5 Ceived on said latter support to pass to a Witnesses:

different plane to said first mentioned CHARLES G. HENSLEY,

matrices. A. B. DOLLARI).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

